The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-05-06
SELECT STORY.
THE BOX IN THE CORNER.

duties were so arduous that l had
scarcely leisure for a weekly fitting to
a certain mansion on the hill where
dwelt Ellen Morris, my promised wife.
In fact, it was with the hope of lessen
ing the distance between us that | had
undertaken these quadruple duties.
The day had been gloomy, and to-
ward the afternoon ominous rolls of
thunder portended a storm.
Colonel Holloway, the well-kuown
treasurer of the oil-company, had been
in the village several days. About
one o'clock he came hurriedly into the
Office with package, which he laid
upon my table, saying
"Take care of that, Bowen, till to-
morrow. I'm going up the road"
The commission was not an unusual
one, and my safe was one of Marvin's
best. | counted the money, which
footed up into the thousands, placed it
in the official evelope, affixed the seals,
and deposited it in the safe. As |
turned away from the lock, voice at
the door said:
| "Say, mister, can you tell me the
way to the post-office ~
A sort of shock went through me at
the unexpected presence that seemed
to have dropped down from nowhere,
and replied, irrtably:
"You could not miss it if you tried.
Keep straight ahead"
Soon large drops of rain came down
then faster and more furiously, until
the air was one vast sheet of water,
and little rivers leaped madly along
the gullies and culverts. Forked
lightning kept pace with the pealine
thunder, and heavens own artillery
seemed let loose. Anything more
dismal or dreary could not well be
imagined, and gradually the lonelines.
grew oppressive. Every straggler had
fled to shelter, and the usual idlers haC
deserted the platform. But l reso
lutely set to work at the dry statistics
of the tion-books, with an occasion
al call to the wires, which were ticking
like mad, so fierce was the electric Cur
rent.
1t was near FIVE o'clock when Ions
freight train came numbering by
switched off a car or two, then drag
ged its slow length onward. Thi
lcreated brief diversion, then one,
more l was deserted.
The next passenger train was no
due till ten o'clock. / lit the lamp
and resigned myself with oueslionabl,
patience to the intervening hours. Al
agreeable interruption came in th
form of my supper, which was brough
in waterproof basket by a sort o
| jack at all trades whom we called Jake
Shaking himself like great dog, h
/" lowed there want much more waite
left up vonder nohow."
II hope not, indeed" said, glad o
the sound of a human voice. "Jake!
l called, as he left the Office, "com
back as soon as you can-l may wan
you"
l had vague idea of dispatchini
some sort of report to Ellen that hat
not been entirely washed away, an
obtaining similar comfort as to he
own fate. little thought l shoul
really need him.
| think Fam not by nature NOR
timid than other men, but as the di.
NAL evening closed in | took from m
desk two revolvers kept ready fo
possible emergencies, and laid on
upon the desk whare was maxim
freight entries, and the other on tn
table where the electric battery stoo;
At intervals fresh package for tn
night express was brought by som
dripping carrier, who deposited it, &C
his receipt, hung about for few on
ents, then FASTENED away to more con
: Portable quarters. Ha.-
Still the ram poured in torrents.
must have been nearly nine o'cloc
when a wagon, hurriedly driven, sue
denly stopped at the platform. In
moment the door was flung open, an
l saw small ambulance well know
about the village Two men spran
out, and, with the aid of the driv,
and his assistant, proceeded to lift oil
"a box which from its dimensions coul
contain only one kind of freight, to-wi
the remains of a human being.
Carefully placing the box in r.
mote corner of the room, near 9th,
boxes awaiting transportation, Il
driver and his man returned to the
wagon, while the two strangers al
preached the desk to enter their ghas
ly freight. They wore slouched ha
and were very wet. They produce
a death certificate of one John Slat
who had died at a farmhouse sever;
miles away. of non-contagious con
plant, and was to be shipped to frienC
down the road. This was ALL Thel
= was nothing singular about it, and ye
when the door closed upon the stranl
ers and was again alone, or wort
than slone, feeling of awe came ov,
me. Clearly the storm had somewhI
unstrung me.
Only one hour till the train was du
after which could turn in for ii
night.
, A louder peal of thunder shook Il
| HOuet, anu ucICSI Husutu tnt llSuiHlu
j. Minute after minnie went by, and eaC
seemed an age. The roar and din
the elements only deepened the gloo
inside, where the uncertain kerosel
! darkened the shadows.
Suddenly, to my overstrained nerve
: the oeaseless clicking of the wir
seemed to say; "Watch the boz
Watch the box Watch the box
. AS particular strain of melody W
at times repeat itself in the mind, al
, obstinately keep time to every mov
ment, till one is well nigh distracte
so this refrain began to enchain ever
8 sense: "Watoh the boxl Watch IL
box Watch the box !" Till no
my depressed spirits were due only
the solitude and the storm. \
t. suspicion of evil or danger had tc
mented me.
Peering more closely into the ding
, corner | saw only the ordinary PHI
'r box, with what seemed to be a squa
d paper or placard, on the side facir
3 me- Probably the address, bungling
+ adjusted on the side instead of the to
70 or else a stain of mud from the la
q rough ride. At all events, / was n
"A | oniioua pnQuoh IN annroach mora m au